Method for gain matching neutron detectors containing various He-3 partial pressures

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for detecting neutrons. A first neutron detector includes at least some helium, and may include some Helium-3. The first neutron detector has an associated gain performance. A second neutron detector includes at least some helium. The second neutron detector may include some Helium-3 and may include some Helium-4. The second neutron detector has an associated gain performance. In an aspect, the gain performance of the second neutron detector matches the gain performance of the first neutron detector. In an aspect, the amount of all helium of the second detector is the same as the amount of all helium in the first detector. In an aspect, at least one of the first and second detectors includes at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance. In an aspect, at least one of the first and second detectors includes some Boron-10 as the additional, different neutron-sensitive substance.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims benefit from and is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/104,160, filed Dec. 12, 2013, and the entire disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a detector array having a plurality of detectors with at least some detectors containing Helium-3 (He-3), and specifically relates to gain matching the plurality of detectors.

Discussion of Prior Art

A neutron detector arrangement can include a plurality of separate neutron detectors. Such a neutron detector arrangement provides for the plurality of detectors to be positioned across an area, e.g., within a panel or well counter. The plurality of detectors are operatively connected to sensory and/or processing equipment, circuitry or the like. Various properties, characteristics, and other information can be discerned by the detection of neutrons by the neutron detectors.

Also, in view of the plurality of detectors it should be appreciated that the outputs of the detectors need to be calibrated or matched so that outputs of the plurality of detectors can be readily processed. In some respects, the outputs of the plurality of detectors need to have comparable values for comparable neutron activity. Comparable is meant to be identical or near-identical. Within a known approach for monitoring a plurality of detectors 10A-10N (see FIG. 1), the multiple detectors are read-out separately. Specifically, see that each of the plurality of detectors 10A-10N has its own associated amplifier 12A-12N) and/or high voltage supply (e.g., 14). Each associated amplifier and/or high voltage supply needs to be adjusted or tuned for the output the respective detector so that matching of output per comparable neutron activity is achieved. Such adjustment is commonly referred to as gain matching.

It should be appreciated that variation in output from various detectors 10A-10N, despite comparable neutron activity, can be caused by variation of the amount of He-3 that is present within the detectors 10A-10N. Such is often referred to as variation of the partial pressure of the He-3. Further, the varied amount of He-3 may include the absence of He-3 in some of the detectors 10A-10N.

It would be beneficial to provide gain matching within a detector array with at least some He-3 containing detectors without the need/effort of adjustment to each associated amplifier and/or high voltage supply to accomplish such gain matching. Such beneficial aspect would be particularly notable for systems containing large numbers of detectors and amplifiers. As such the present inventors have realized that there is a need for improvement concerning gain matching within a detector array with at least some He-3 containing detectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the arrangements and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the arrangements and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such arrangements and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with one aspect the present invention provides an arrangement for detecting neutrons. The arrangement includes a first neutron detector that includes at least some helium. The first neutron detector has an associated gain performance. The arrangement includes a second neutron detector that includes at least some helium and at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance. The second neutron detector has an associated gain performance. The gain performance of the second neutron detector matches the gain performance of the first neutron detector.

In accordance with another aspect the present invention provides an arrangement for detecting neutrons. The arrangement includes a first detector, which includes helium that includes at least some Helium-3. The arrangement includes a second detector, which includes helium that includes at least some Helium-4. The amount of all helium of the second detector is the same as the amount of all helium in the first detector. At least one of the first and second detectors includes some Boron-10.

In accordance with another aspect the present invention provides an arrangement for detecting neutrons. The arrangement includes a first detector, which includes at least some Helium-3. The arrangement includes a second detector, which includes at least some Helium-3 and at least some Helium-4. At least one of the first and second detectors also includes at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance, and wherein gain performance of the first and second detectors match.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a known neutron detector arrangement having a plurality of detectors, each potentially having a varying partial pressure of Helium-3, including an absence of Helium-3, and a plurality of associated, respective amplifiers, each adjusted for gain matching based upon the associated, respective detector;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a neutron detector arrangement having a plurality of detectors, each potentially having a varying partial pressure of Helium-3, including an absence of He-3, and potentially a complementary partial pressure of Helium-4, in at least some of the detectors, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, and a single, common amplifier;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another example neutron detector arrangement having a plurality of detectors, each potentially having a varying partial pressure of Helium-3, including an absence of He-3, and potentially a complementary partial pressure of Helium-4, in at least some of the detectors, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, and a plural amplifiers;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example neutron detector arrangement having a plurality of detectors in a panel or well counter detector array within which an aspect of the present invention may be incorporated;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of the example detector arrangement of within which an aspect of the present invention may be incorporated; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 of the example detector arrangement of within which an aspect of the present invention may be incorporated; and

FIG. 7 is a top-level flow chart illustrating a method for providing an example neutron detector arrangement having a plurality of detectors in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the invention are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the invention. For example, one or more aspects of the invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. Still further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements.

An example of an arrangement 100 for detecting neutron activity (e.g., neutron(s) moving to detector(s) and being detected thereat—impingement) and which has at least one aspect in accordance with the present invention is schematically shown within FIG. 2. The arrangement 100 includes a plurality of detectors 110A-110N. It is to be appreciated that a generic number “N” of detectors are present and that the generic number can be any number greater than one (i.e., “N” can be any plural number). Also, it is to be appreciated that within discussion of the detectors 110A-110N, the discussion can be generic for all of the detectors and/or applicable to any of the specific detectors.

Each detector (e.g., 110A-110N) includes at least one neutron sensitive material. It is to be appreciated that within the presented example each detector (e.g., 110A-110N) includes a cathode and anode, not specifically shown, and that neutron activity (e.g., neutron(s) moving to detector(s) and being detected thereat) which cause a detectable current at the anode. For example, each neutron detectors include an anode (e.g., a wire) extending axially through a cathode shell, with an insulator separating the anode from the cathode shell. To detect neutrons, ions/particles resulting from neutron reactions within the neutron sensitive material inside the detector will collide with gas molecules within the detector to produce free electrons. These free electrons are drawn to the anode, whereupon the free electrons generate a signal/electronic pulse. This signal/electronic pulse is analyzed to determine a neutron count rate. As such, the operation of the detectors 110A-110N to detect neutron activity (e.g., neutron(s) moving to detector(s) and being detected thereat) will be well appreciated by the person of ordinary skill in the art. Of course, variations in detector construction/operation are contemplated and not limited to the presented example. For example, the detector may utilize ionization of gases containing He-3 to detect neutrons.

At least some of the detectors (e.g., 110A-110N) include at least some Helium-3 (He-3 or ³He). It is to be appreciated that “least some of the detectors” can be all of the detectors or can be less than all of the detectors. It is to be appreciated that it is possible that at least some (e.g., less than all) of the detectors (e.g., 110A-110N) contain no He-3. The He-3, along with any other present gas(es) that is present within detectors (e.g., 110A-110N) is bounded within a volume that is bounded by an enclosure (e.g., possibly the cathode itself). See FIGS. 3-5 for an example detector array 200 with bound volume enclosures provided as tubes. The configuration and construction (e.g., shape, size, and spacing) of the bound volume enclosures need not be specific limitation upon the present invention and thus all variations concerning the configuration and construction of the bound volume enclosures are contemplated.

It is to be appreciated that, among the plurality of detectors (FIG. 2, 110A-110N), the fill pressure values for the He-3 may vary (including zero). In other words, all/some of detectors 110A-110N may have varying amounts of He-3 (including zero). For each detector 110A-110N, it is to be appreciated that other neutron sensitive material (e.g., Boron-10 or B-10) may be present within the detector. Thus, some/all of the detectors within the array may include other neutron sensitive material. Also, for each detector 110A-110N, at least one non-neutron sensitive material, including other gas(es) may be present within the detector. In view of the possible presence of other gas(es) within each detector (e.g., 110A-110N), the amount of He-3 within each detector may provide a partial pressure. As some non-limiting examples of other gas(es) that may be present within some/all of the detectors within the array, various combinations of stopping gases (e.g., Ar, Kr, Xe, N, etc.) and quench gases (e. CO₂, methane, etc.) may be present.

In view of the variation of the pressure values for the He-3 among the plurality of detectors 110A-110N, the electrical response activity (e.g., gas gain) within each detector by the present He-3 associated with a comparable neutron activity may vary. Again, recall the discussion concerning FIG. 1 in which associated amplifiers (e.g., 12A-12N) and/or high voltage supply (e.g., 14) needed to be adjusted or tuned for the output the respective detectors 10A-10N so that matching of output per comparable neutron activity was achieved. Focusing back to FIG. 2, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention, Helium-4 (He-4 or ⁴He) is provided within at least some of the detectors (e.g., 110A-110N), as needed, to match the gas-gain performance among the detectors 110A-110N. Again, it is to be appreciated that “least some of the detectors” can be all of the detectors or can be less than all of the detectors. It is contemplated that differing amounts of He-4, including zero, may be provided within the different detectors (e.g., 110A-110N). Note that FIG. 2 represents the possible different amounts of He-3 and/or He-4 with the different detectors 110A-110N via the different legends “GAS MIX 1” to “GAS MIX N.” Each of the gas mixes may contain different amount(s) (including zero) of He-3 and/or He-4.

Turning to He-4, He-4 is a common isotope of helium and may be considered to be more readily available than He-3 and/or may be less costly than He-3. Turning to the provision (i.e., inclusion) of He-4 within at least some of the detectors 110A-110N in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, He-4 is used to equalize the total helium pressure among the detectors 110A-110N. He-4 is electronically identical to He-3. As such, with He-4 added, as needed, into each respective detector (e.g., 110A-110N) such that the total helium (He-4 and possibly He-3) in that detector is equal to the total helium (He-3 and possibly He-4) of another detector (e.g., 110A-110N), the functional characteristics of the two total helium contents, except neutron sensitivity, are same.

As an example, a prototype He-3 Hybrid scattering module contains multiple (e.g., 28 or more) detectors 110A-110N filled with X (with “X” being a first specific value) atmospheres of He-3 gas plus Y (with “Y” being a second specific value) atmospheres of Ar/CO₂, and contains some (e.g., 4) detectors 110A-110N without He-3 gas. It should be noted that within this example the generic number “N” is equal to 32. Again, it is to be appreciated that the generic number “N” can be any number greater than two (i.e., any plural number). If the non-He-3 detectors contain only Y atmospheres of Ar/CO₂, the gas gain will be different, requiring different high-voltage and/or gain settings to operate simultaneously with the He-3 filled detectors. Such a situation is avoided via use of an aspect of the present invention. By adding X atmospheres of He-4 to those detectors with no He-3, while maintaining a constant Y atmospheres of Ar/CO2, the high voltage and gain requirements of the detectors will match those of the He-3 detectors exactly. Furthermore, in the case of linear position sensitive detectors, the stopping power of the fill-gas will be matched, which will result in the same position resolution in the two subsets of detectors.

One aspect in accordance with the present invention provides an ability to add additional detectors to an existing array of detectors containing at least some detectors containing at least some He-3 gas. Another aspect in accordance with the present invention provides an ability to operate with a lesser number (e.g., a single) of high voltage and/or amplifier settings. See the example of FIG. 2, which shows a single amplifier 112 and a single high voltage 114. Another aspect in accordance with the present invention provides an ability to operate a detector array using some amount of He-4 in lieu of some amount of He-3 for each of a plurality of detectors to have equal total helium amounts.

It is to be appreciated that one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized within other arrangements. For example, See FIG. 3 which shows an arrangement 100′ that includes a plurality of amplifiers 112A-112N, one for each detector 110A-110N. Such is similar to the plural amplifiers 12A-12N as shown within FIG. 1. However, unlike the scenario of FIG. 1 that has the individual amplifiers 12A-12N of varying gain due to needed adjustments, all the amplifiers 112A-112N are of equal gain.

It is to be appreciated that one or more of the aspects of the present invention can be utilized within various detector arrays. FIGS. 4-6 merely show just one example. It is to be appreciated that in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the arrangement is for detecting neutrons. The arrangement includes at least a first detector including helium that includes at least some He-3 (Helium-3), and at least a second detector including helium that includes at least some He-4 (Helium-4). The amount of all helium of the second detector is the same as the amount of all helium in the first detector. It should be appreciated that “at least some” means that the helium may be completely He-3 or He-4, respectively, or a helium mixture.

The above mentioned aspect of the invention can provide a basis to which any number of additional detectors can be provided. For example, the arrangement can include a third detector including helium that includes at least some He-4. The amount of all helium of the third detector is the same as the amount of all helium in each of the first and second detector. Still further, the third detector could include some He-3. This variation of He-3 and He-4 leads to the aspect that the He-3 and the He-4 in the various detectors can be provided in various combinations. For example, the second detector can include some He-3. As another example, the second detector includes no He-3. Further, in an example, the first detector can include some He-4. Still further, in an example, the first detector can include no He-4.

To be sure, it is to be appreciated that within the arrangement, there may be sub-group(s) or sub-array(s) of detectors that are similarly/identically configured (e.g., certain gas mixture) that may be different from other sub-group(s) or sub-array(s) of detectors. For example, a first sub-group may have a first gas mixture and a second sub-group may have a second, different gas mixture. However, the aspects of the present invention provide for overall matching of total helium within all detectors.

As another aspect, the present invention provides an associated method of gain matching neutron detectors containing various He-3 partial pressures. One example, method 300 is shown within FIG. 7. It is to be appreciated that the shown method 300 is only one example and that other examples are contemplated. Also, it is to be appreciated that the show example method 300 is presented via a top-level flowchart. It is to be appreciated that various, more specific details within such a top-level flow chart method are contemplated.

The method 300 is initiated at step 302 and proceeds to step 304. At step 304, the amount of He-3 within each of a plurality of detectors of an array is determined. It is to be appreciated that the determination the amount of He-3 within each of the plurality of detectors may be via various methods. For example, the amount may be known from previous filling information. Of course, any process (e.g., prior knowledge, testing) can be used to determine the amount of He-3 within each of the plurality of detectors. The method 300 then proceeds to step 306.

At step 306, He-4 is added to at least some of the detectors to achieve equal total amounts of helium within all of the detectors. It is to be appreciated that the amount of He-4 to add to each detector may vary. Also, some detectors may not receive any added He-4. The result, with He-4 added as needed to at least some of the detectors to achieve equal total amounts of helium within all of the detectors, is that the functional characteristics of the two total helium contents, except neutron sensitivity, are same as previously mentioned. Again recall that He-4 is electronically identical to He-3. With the functional equivalence being achieved, the method ends at step 308.

The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Example embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims. 

That is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement for detecting neutrons, the arrangement comprising: a first neutron detector including at least some helium, and the first neutron detector having an associated gain performance; and a second neutron detector including at least some helium and at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance, and the second neutron detector having an associated gain performance; wherein the gain performance of the second neutron detector matching the gain performance of the first neutron detector.
 2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance includes a selected neutron sensitive material.
 3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the selected sensitive material includes at least some Boron-10.
 4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first neutron detector includes at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance.
 5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance includes a selected neutron sensitive material.
 6. The arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein the selected neutron sensitive material includes at least some Boron-10.
 7. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least some helium of the first neutron detector includes at least some Helium-3, the at least some helium of the second neutron detector includes at least some Helium-3, and the at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance includes a selected neutron sensitive gas.
 8. The arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance also includes a selected neutron sensitive material.
 9. The arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein the selected neutron sensitive material includes at least some Boron-10.
 10. The arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least some helium of at least one of the first and second neutron detectors includes at least some Helium-4.
 11. An arrangement for detecting neutrons, the arrangement comprising: a first detector including helium that includes at least some Helium-3; and a second detector including helium that includes at least some Helium-4, the amount of all helium of the second detector being the same as the amount of all helium in the first detector; wherein at least one of the first and second detectors includes some Boron-10.
 12. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first detector includes some Boron-10.
 13. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second detector includes some Boron-10.
 14. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein both the first and second detectors each includes some Boron-10.
 15. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second detector includes some Helium-3.
 16. The arrangement as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first detector includes some Helium-4.
 17. An arrangement for detecting neutrons, the arrangement comprising: a first detector including at least some Helium-3; and a second detector including at least some Helium-3 and at least some Helium-4; wherein at least one of the first and second detectors also including at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance, and wherein gain performance of the first and second detectors match.
 18. The arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein the at least some additional, different neutron-sensitive substance includes a selected neutron sensitive material.
 19. The arrangement as set forth in claim 18, selected neutron sensitive material includes at least some Boron-10.
 20. The arrangement as set forth in claim 18, wherein both the first and second detectors each includes the selected neutron sensitive material as the additional, different neutron-sensitive substance. 